Panchayat Raj - India -Study Notes for Exams

• First state in India to launch Panchyati Raj is Rajastan on October 2, 1959.
• The first South Indian State to start Panchayat Raj System is Andhra Pradesh in 1959.
• On 24 April 1993, 73rd Amendment Act 1992 came into force to provide constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions in India.
• The Amendment Act has added part IX to the Constitution of India entitled as ‘Panchayats’. 
• The Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution of India contains provision to Panchayats added by 73rd Amendment,
• Architect of Panchyati Raj - Belwant Rai Mehta
• The first state to conduct elections of Panchayat Raj institutions after the 73rd amendment is Madhya Pradesh. 
• The first state to introduce compulsory voting to Panchayat Raj Instititutions is Gujarat.
• Kerala Panchayat Raj Act -1994

• Formerly Panchayat Day was observed on the birthday of Belwant Rai Mehta (February 19). Now National Panchayati Raj Day (National Local Self-Government day) is observed on April 24.
• The states without Panchayati Raj Institutions are Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram and the Union Territory without the same is Delhi.

 The 3-tier system of Panchayati Raj consists of:

1. Village-level Panchayats

2. Block-level Panchayats

3. District-level Panchayats.

  Various Committees on Panchayati Raj

   Balwant Rai Mehta :  1957

   V.T.Krishnammachari : 1960

   Takhatmal Jain Study Group: 1966

   Ashok Mehta Committee : 1977

   G.V.K Rao committee  :1985

   Dr.L.M.Singhvi Committee:1986